Prosecutors accuse the women of being part of a "deadly pipeline" that routed money and fighters from the U.S. to Somalia.

Defense attorneys portray their clients as humanitarians who wanted to help the poor in their war-torn homeland and tried to help those who were protecting Somalia from the Ethiopian army, which many saw as invaders.

Both women face one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Ali faces 12 counts of providing such support and Hassan faces two counts of lying to the FBI.